Philemon 1-21--September 4, 2016 RADICAL FORGIVENESS AND LOVE The house of Philemon at Colossae was in an uproar. The elderly maidservant who answered the door at this wealthy and influential household came into the atrium where the family was sitting. Her eyes were opened wide with surprise, as though she had just found a scorpion on her arm. She was breathing more heavily than usual. Everyone in the room wondered what had so startled the normally unflappable old slave. And not just the family was wondering. The secret communication network among the other slaves was buzzing furiously, and they all crowded around the outer edge of the atrium, waiting to hear if the rumors about one of their own were actually true. Finally the maidservant caught her breath enough to speak. Master Philemon! Mistress Apphia! Come quickly! It's Onesimus! He s back! The clan of slaves looked at one another, shocked. Onesimus, one of their fellow slaves, had returned? How could that be? He had disappeared months ago, and rumors about him had been quietly whispered about in the slave quarters ever since. Some said the young servant had stolen some money from Master Philemon and run away. Others said Onesimus had been sent to Paul, the great apostle, on a mission for the Lord Jesus, and had simply remained with Paul instead of returning to his master and his duties after an appropriate amount of time. Whatever the reason for his absence, Onesimus had been labeled a runaway slave, and that didn t bode well for the young man. Severe penalties up to and including crucifixion could be imposed on him for such a crime. Many of Onesimus's fellow slaves had secretly rejoiced that he had escaped. Good for him, and God be with him in his newly found freedom, they said. Some of them said, I wish I had the courage and fortitude to do the same as Onesimus. But now he was back. Why had he returned? And more importantly, what would happen to him now that he had returned? Those questions were important to the slaves, because they didn't want Onesimus, whom they
loved, to suffer a terrible fate as an example to them of what would happen if they ever dared to try such a disrespectful stunt. The other slaves hoped for the best, however, because, compared with others in Colossae, Philemon was a good master, just and kind. His house served as one of the most influential churches in the area. Philemon's conversion to the cause of Jesus, and his deep respect and reverence for the apostle Paul, who was well acquainted with this house and the church in it, led him to include the whole household family members and his slaves as well as well as neighbors, friends and legally freed slaves, in worship. Of course, everyone still had his or her appropriate place and needed to stay within their proper boundaries; but just the same, all were welcome to come together as one community to hear God's word and participate in the holy meal of bread and wine, which Jesus himself established to remember him by. Philemon jumped up immediately when his maidservant announced that Onesimus had returned. But then she handed him something. Onesimus asked me to give this to you before you went to him, the old slave woman said. Then she backed away timidly. It was a handwritten letter, from Paul himself! Philemon was as stunned as everyone else in the room. With the great expense of papyrus, letters were rare you might say they were a luxury. So, why would the apostle write to him personally? And in particular, why would Paul write to him from prison? Perhaps the letter would make sense of the sudden reappearance of his young slave, Onesimus. Philemon unrolled the scroll and read Paul's letter. I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, who is a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. God's best to you! Christ's blessings on you all! Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, Oh, thank you, God! I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which spills over to other Christians. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common continues to be reflected in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ our Lord in all of it. My friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel even more so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers. In line with this, I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ's ambassador, and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn't hesitate to command this if I thought it would be necessary; but I prefer to make it a personal request. While here 2
in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is at your home, carrying this letter in his hand Onesimus! He was useless to you before, but now he is useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, but in doing so it feels like I'm cutting off my right arm. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I'm here in jail for the Gospel. But I didn't want to do anything behind your back, or force you to do a good deed that you hadn't willingly agreed to. Maybe it's for the best that you lost Onesimus for a while. You are getting him back now for good and not just a slave this time, but a true Christian brother! For that is what he was to me. And he will surely be even more than that to you. So, if you consider me a co-worker for the cause of Christ, welcome him back as you would welcome me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, put it on my account. This is my personal signature Paul and I will stand behind it (I don't need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?). Do me this big favor, my dear friend. You will be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good. I know you well enough to know you will carry out my request. You will probably even go far beyond what I have written. Oh, and one more thing: please get a room at your house ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again. Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello, as well as my co-workers, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke. All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ! When the Lord's Day came, there was, as usual, a large crowd gathered in Philemon's house: men, women, Greeks and Jews, slaves and free. The atmosphere was electric because word had spread about Onesimus's return and Paul's letter. Everyone crowded in to hear Philemon give the message. All who were present also noticed that Onesimus was in attendance. Other slave owners wondered why he, a runaway, slave, hadn't been taken away immediately and subjected to the severest punishment. Not doing so sent a very dangerous message to all the other slaves here who might decide to seek their own freedom. As Master Philemon began the worship service, he could sense the tension in the room. He blessed everyone in the house in the name of the risen and victorious Christ. Then he read aloud, for everyone in the audience to hear, the letter that Paul had written to him. After he had finished, Philemon rolled up the letter and looked around at each person in 3
attendance. Our brother Paul, who has been imprisoned for the sake of our resurrected Lord and the spread of the Gospel, has made it clear, Philemon said. In response to Onesimus's disobedience, he has asked me to forgive. Surely that is the only appropriate response, since God has shown mercy to me many times over through the cross Jesus endured. So I announce to you all, in this House of the Lord, that I release my slave--no, my brother, Onesimus--from any penalty the law demands regarding his transgression. The congregation gasped. One member shouted out, How can you do such a thing? Now our slaves will demand mercy whenever they transgress against us, their owners. How you treat your slaves is between you, your slaves, and God, said Philemon. I can only tell you what is in my own heart regarding this matter. And what is in my heart is a deep conviction that I am called by Christ to forgive Onesimus, as well as to love him like a member of my own family. I confess to you all that, even though I am a follower of The Way, this forgiveness is the hardest command Christ has asked of me. My heart tightened as I read Paul's request to pardon Onesimus. But as I reread the letter, pondered Paul's words and prayed about it, it became very clear to me what I needed to do. Then Philemon looked over at Onesimus. Come here, he called. The young man hesitated a moment, then walked over to Philemon. And Philemon opened his arms to embrace him and kiss him as a brother. Philemon looked around at the congregation in his home. My dear sisters and brothers, hear me. Radical forgiveness and love. Love and forgiveness that have no limits. That is what Paul is calling us to do in the name of Christ who died for us. We're to give up all resentment and hatred in our hearts before it consumes and destroys us. This is the way of God s coming kingdom, and we who follow Jesus are to practice it here and now." But I m not able to love and forgive so radically, Philemon, one of the gathered men said. Not able, or not willing?" Philemon asked. After a moment of silence Philemon continued, The way Jesus asks us to walk isn't easy; indeed, it's a narrow and difficult way. But what can we expect, following a man who, as he hung dying on a cross, prayed for his executors, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Then Philemon ended his message by saying, Perhaps the first step 4
toward loving and forgiving so profoundly is truly believing that, while we were yet in our sins, Christ died for us. We who are loved and have been shown great mercy and love by God can surely find the strength to love and forgive others, with God s help. Can t we? My dear friends, that s a question all of us must wrestle with as Christians. We who are loved and have been shown great mercy and love by God can surely find the strength to love and forgive others, with God s help. Can t we? May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit be with us as we ponder this challenge to us and to all of Jesus followers, to practice radical love and forgiveness. Amen. 5